What size T spacers for metro style tiles (10cm x 20cm)

[Graham]

Hi guys, I will be doing a kitchen splashback using metro tiles.

The tiles are 10cm x 20cm in size. Should I go with 2mm spacers or 3mm spacers? Grout is Mapei Keracolor Super Fine (SF).

Thank you.

 

[acaciaguy]

2 mm

 

[Dumbo]

2

 

[acaciaguy]

Make sure wall is flat and a nice surface and you will be fine

 

[Graham]

Great thank you, I will grab a big pack of Rubi T spacers then and get cracking. Any tips for metro tiles specifically?

 

[acaciaguy]

Do you have a pic of area you are tiling ?

 

[Graham]

 

[Graham]

Metro tiles, 2mm spacers, Mapei Primer G (white emulsion will be scraped off first!), then Mapei adhesive and tiles.

 

[acaciaguy]

First thing is to get work top fitted dead level. Will make life easier

Is the sink centred to the two wall units left and right ?

What do you mean by internal corner trim

 

[Flintstone]

Lovely diagrams

No trims required on internal corners Graham, just external - 8mm trim.

 

[Graham]

I'm panicking a bit now as I have a length of this, from Genesis, please see attached. Do I not bother using it in the internal corners? Shall I mitre the tiles instead in the corners?

 

[Graham]

Also, this is the external corner trim I have.

Shall I use that instead in all corners, both internal and external then?

I crossed out the wall on my atachment as that doesn't apply in my case, I will move the profile slightly to the right to sit flush with the left wall, if you see what I mean.

DIY gets me excited but when a pro says you doing wrong I start panicking!

 

[acaciaguy]

Don’t bother with it. Mitre or scribe internal corners and use silicone

 

[Graham]

OK fine, so I will ditch the white internal corner trim in that case (it's the most expensive one too, at £14!).

To cut the tiles I went and bought one of these, hopefully it will be ok. Spec says it can do mitre angles.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plasplugs-Compact-DWW200-Electric-Cutter/dp/B00PLY2KI0

 

[acaciaguy]

So with metros. Pick the centre of your main wall. Usually a cooker hood area. But in your case it’s a sink. If that is centred between the two wall units then find the center of that. Tile from that line off the counter top.

 

[Flintstone]

I'd say 99% of metro jobs done by professional or diy get the tiles butted up in the internal corners same as any other internal tile corner and siliconed after.

 

[Graham]

Great thanks. Mate is coming round on Friday to help fit the worktops, the base units are all level.

Do I need to batten, from the starting point, I am guessing no?
Also (and forgive me) do I leave the T spacers in the wall and grout over them or pick them out?

 

[acaciaguy]

No batten. Tile off work top

Personally I use cross spacers. Stick arm in rather than flat in joint and pull them out when set

 

[acaciaguy]

I'd say 99% of metro jobs done by professional or diy get the tiles butted up in the internal corners same as any other internal tile corner and siliconed after.

I see that often. What do you do? I prefer mitre or scribe. Gets rid of diamond effect

 

[Flintstone]

I butt them up. A lot of the metros I have used recently seem to have a very subtle bevel.

 

[acaciaguy]

I agree with that. There are many that are really flat

 

[Graham]

These metros I am using have a subtle bevel that is roughly half inch on the outer perimeter of each tile.

In terms of butting the tiles together, do I use (A) or (B) joint at the internal corners?

 

[acaciaguy]

Are you an engineer or graphic designer?

 

[acaciaguy]

A and B will look the same when siliconed

 

[Graham]

Haha, neither, just a hopeless idiot who can just about use a PC, but who always wants to try his hand at everything.

Good point re: A and B. Mitre is a no-no? It's partly why I bought that very Plasplugs tile cutter as I saw a video on YouTube which shows it can mitres and I went "oooooh, that looks good, I'll be doing that!" hahaha.